Marcum, Gallardo to carry lighter workload this spring

Brewers right-hander Shaun Marcum will back off his throwing program after developing some tenderness in his shoulder for the second straight spring, manager Ron Roenicke said Thursday.

Roenicke downplayed the news, saying the Brewers already had Marcum on a conservative program this spring after he threw a career-high 210 innings in 2011, including the postseason, two years removed from Tommy John elbow surgery. Marcum and Yovani Gallardo came into camp scheduled for just six Spring Training starts beginning around March 10, Roenicke said.

Marcum also had a shoulder issue last spring.

“He says he has it every spring,” Roenicke said.

Marcum’s shoulder was more inflamed last year, when he missed a Cactus League start but was able to start the regular season on time and was the Brewers’ most consistent starting pitcher for much of the first half.

He sagged down the stretch, allowing 50 hits and 34 earned runs in his final 41 innings, covering five September starts and three more in the postseason.

“We’re not that concerned about it, but we talked about it and we didn’t think either one of those guys [Marcum or Gallardo] needed as many innings as some of the other starters,” Roenicke said.

Meta

The following are trademarks or service marks of Major League Baseball entities and may be used only with permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. or the relevant Major League Baseball entity: Major League, Major League Baseball, MLB, the silhouetted batter logo, World Series, National League, American League, Division Series, League Championship Series, All-Star Game, and the names, nicknames, logos, uniform designs, color combinations, and slogans designating the Major League Baseball clubs and entities, and their respective mascots, events and exhibitions.